AIBF Business Talk

Episode 9: Content Llama - A disruptor in the marketplace, raising finance, expanding globally and running a successful business partnership

Content Llama is a successful Irish company co-founded by Karina Kelly and Joleen Looney. 

The dynamic duo are disrupting the eCommerce retail space through their innovative software and service that empowers retailers with a single feed of tailored digital product content.

From sourcing product images and descriptions through to tailoring each image and description to meet a retailer’s needs. Content Llama is creating a whole new category in the eCommerce retail space.

In this week's episode of AIBF Business Talk, Elaine spoke to Joleen Looney who offered invaluable advice on how to be an effective partner in business and how to run a successful company. 

Content Llama is the All-Ireland Business Foundation’s All-Star Breakthrough Business 2021 and is scaling at pace having successfully fundraised €2.5M this year.   

Content Llama’s exemplary performance can be traced back to its dynamic leaders, Joleen and Karina who bring years of expertise, solutions, and fun to everything they do.

Like Karina, Joleen is proud to form part of a female-led business and is dedicated to helping other women to achieve their entrepreneurial dream.

Episode 8: Vicki McGowan - Start-up advice for small business success

REVA is an Irish company that effectively supports pre-start-ups and early-stage growth micro & small businesses to succeed.

Vicki McGowan founded the successful business in 2015 having built up more than 25 years of experience working for semi-state bodies, corporates and micro-businesses. 

Seeing an opportunity to share her market knowledge and expertise with early stage entrepreneurs, she now helps individuals gain confidence and clarity around setting up and successfully running their own businesses. 

In this episode of AIBF Business Talk, Vicki spoke to Elaine about her fascinating journey and offered some invaluable advice to small, micro and startup businesses that want to succeed. 

Vicki McGowan has been recognised by the All-Ireland Business Foundation as an All-Star Master Practitioner in Solo Entrepreneur Startup Support. 

She joins a prestigious group of individuals who are accredited thought leaders in their fields of work by the AIBF.

Vicki is a trusted source of expertise who moves and inspires people with innovative ideas. Most importantly she turns those ideas into reality and knows and shows how to replicate her success.

Episode 7: Gary Grimes - Take these steps to improve your chances of securing financing

Simplí Business Finance is one of Ireland's fastest growing business finance intermediaries, specialising in the accessing of business loans and asset financing for Irish companies. 

Simplí delivers tailored funding solutions for each of their clients based on their unique financial needs.

The business founded by Gary Grimes was recently named “Best SME Finance Consultancy Company 2021” at the Irish Enterprise Awards hosted by EU Business News.

Gary has more than 15 years of experience in the finance industry and has worked with countless numbers of SMEs in all sectors. 

The Dublin entrepreneur has been recognised by the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) as a thought leader in the area of SME and Commercial Finance.

Gary joins a prestigious group of individuals who are accredited thought leaders in their fields of work by the AIBF.

Gary is a firm believer in the KISS method of “keeping it super simple” and was inspired to start his own business by his love for working with SMEs and seeing the positive impact that financing can have on small companies.

Episode 6: Mark Prendergast - How to effectively motivate your teams and drive up performance levels

Mark Prendergast started his leadership consultancy business in 2017 after serving as a Senior Irish Army Officer. 

With more than 30 years experience in developing high performing military leaders and leading multinational teams in complex and hostile environments, Mark is a tried and tested leadership expert.

In this episode of AIBF Business Talk Mark imparted some brilliant leadership advice on how to effectively inspire and motivate your teams to drive up performance levels in your business. 

Mark has been able to draw on experience gained on eight overseas operational tours of duty to Lebanon, Syria, Kosova, Liberia and the Congo to serve his diverse clientele. 

His practical perspective on leadership in action has enabled his clients to understand, adapt and scale their organisations in response to the demands of Covid 19.

Mark's motto is: “Amateurs Practice Until They Get It Right; Professionals Practice Until They Can’t Get It Wrong”.

Episode 5: Martin Murtagh - Why effective business relationships are essential for growth

Martin Murtagh is the founder of the Growth Company. Known fondly as Marty he hails from Newry in the North of Ireland but he has a truly global reach. 

The Growth Company helps business to business professional services and consulting firms with actionable LinkedIn marketing plans that generate more leads so that they can win more business.

With almost 20 years’ digital marketing experience and over a decade in social selling, Martin’s strategies have helped hundreds of businesses to strengthen their relationships with their customers online.

In this episode, Martin spoke to Elaine about why effective business relationships are essential for growth and offered some practical advice on how to build better relationships both online and in person. 

Martin and his team are dedicated to making a positive difference and leaving a legacy of growth.

Episode 4: Kamil Kus - “I set up my business because I wanted to give something back to Ireland”

Kamil Kus is the founder and owner of Irishdirectory.ie, the newest online directory for Irish businesses. 

He started his market-leading enterprise to provide a simple and affordable directory solution for business owners all over the country. 

Originally from Poland, Kamil lives in Offaly with his wife and son and has spent over 16 years building valuable relationships within the Irish business community. 

He spoke to Elaine about his business journey and about how he was inspired to give something back to a country that gave him so much.

Irish Directory has been recognised with Rising Star Accreditation from the All-Ireland Business Foundation in recognition of the company’s positive impact on Irish trade and commerce.

Episode 3: David O'Brien - How exceptional customer service can safeguard your business future

Cork Coach Hire has been serving its loyal customers from its Cork City base for more than 25 years.

The market leading business provides luxury coach transport for a myriad of different customers in various industries such as tourism, corporate, private hire, school transport, and much more.

Managing Director of the company David O’Brien joined his father’s business in 2017 after cutting his teeth at the Herlihy Supermarket Group. 

David’s path into the business was not straightforward and in this episode, he spoke to Elaine about the many ups and downs he experienced on his journey to the top of the family business.

He also revealed some of the lessons he has learned along the way - including the importance of versatility and excellent customer service to the past, present, and future of Cork Coach Hire.

Cork Coach Hire has achieved Business All-Star Accreditation from the All-Ireland Business Foundation in recognition of the company’s conduct in the areas of performance, trust, commitment, and customer-centricity.

Episode 2: Damien McCarthy - How I built a successful business after leaving my steady job (and why I should have done it sooner)

Damien McCarthy is the Founder and CEO of HR Buddy, a pioneering HR service provider with a rapidly expanding client base. 

He is a believer in people and in delivering high-performance development cultures within a business.

HR Buddy is one of the few HR service providers who operate payroll alongside HR services, allowing businesses to align their HR/People strategy with their overall business strategy. 

This service gives both HR Buddy and the businesses they work with an edge.

Under Damien’s expert guidance, HR Buddy customers consistently report significant improvements in team morale and customer/client satisfaction within their enterprises.  

In this episode, Damien explains how he has built a successful business after taking the risk to leave his steady job.

HR Buddy has achieved All-Star Business Accreditation for the second year in a row in recognition of its performance in the areas of trust, commitment, performance and customer centricity. 

Episode 1: John O'Connell - How the power of collaboration created the AIBF Innovative Product Of the Year

John O’Connell is the Founder and CEO of CW Applied Technology, the innovative company behind the invention & development of the mobile, portable UV-C room steriliser – The MUV-X.

In this episode, John tells us how he leveraged the power of collaboration to develop his company’s bold invention.

CW Applied Technology provides contract manufacturing and design services to industry. 

The CW stands for ‘Collaborate to Win’.

John is an Electronic Engineering graduate from the University of Limerick with 30 years experience working in electronics manufacturing and design. 

Much of his career has been spent in automotive and telecommunications electronics. 

Originally from Tralee, Co. Kerry, living now in West Limerick with his wife of 28yrs Eileen, he has two adult children….one of whom now works at CW Applied Technology and the other has his own dog grooming, kennelling and day care business. 

John has recently been named as All-Star Clare Business Person of the Year and his product has also been recognised as All-Star Innovative Product of the Year.'